9 Common Signs You Might Have a Cavity

It is important to know how to tell if you have a cavity. Learn the symptoms that indicate you may have a cavity that is in need of treatment.

Over 80% of U.S. Americans over age 17 have had at least one cavity—a permanently damaged area that forms a small opening or hole in the tooth. Children, teens and older adults are at the highest risk for cavities. Here is some information to help you recognize cavity symptoms. For urgent treatment, search Arkansas Family Dental, Little Rock AR or just Google search emergency cavity filling Little Rock.

Signs and symptoms of a cavity depend on its location and the extent of tooth damage. As the decay becomes larger, one or more of the following cavity signs and symptoms can occur:

Toothache or Gum Pain

Pain may occur in the tooth, or in the gums below the tooth. The pain may be dull and throbbing, or sharp pain that starts suddenly, without apparent cause.

Pain when Chewing Food

Sudden sharp pain while biting or chewing food, or just touching the tooth, may indicate that the nerve in your tooth is being affected because the tooth is infected and decaying.

Temperature Sensitivity

Extreme sensitivity to cold or hot fluids and foods, causing discomfort or pain, may indicate that tooth decay is allowing the nerve inside of your tooth to be affected.

Visible Hole in Tooth

If you have discomfort or pain in a tooth while eating, look for a hole or pit in the sensitive area, and visit a dentist to have the cavity filled.

Dark Spots or Discoloration

Black, brown, or white spots or stains on the tooth surface may be natural stains, but if the spot is sticky or soft, it is probably a symptom of an infected tooth with a growing cavity.

Bad Taste in Mouth or Bad Breath

The same bacteria that lead to tooth decay can cause odor and a bad taste in the mouth. Bad breath can also be a sign of gum disease resulting from plaque buildup on teeth that is irritating the gums.

Swollen Area of the Gums

Swelling in the gums may be due to a cavity or gum infection. The swelling may not be painful. A very deep cavity can result in infection of the nerve that causes swelling.

Bleeding during Brushing

Recurring bleeding during brushing can be a symptom of a deep cavity or a gum disorder, and a very large cavity can also cause bleeding from the tooth.

Pain from Pressure Changes

Discomfort or dull or severe tooth pain that starts during take-off in an airplane or while scuba diving in deep water is likely to be a symptom of a cavity. Air pressure changes can cause irritation in the nerve an infected tooth.

When You Should See a Dentist

If you have mouth pain or a toothache, you should see your dentist as soon as possible. You can click here to make an appointment, or search “cavity fillings Little Rock” for dental services. Filling a cavity at the earliest possible stage will reduce your symptoms and prevent the cavity from growing larger and impacting deeper layers of your tooth.

Arkansas Family Dental

We are a family dental facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, providing routine dental hygiene services, preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental services as well as root canals and orthodontics. If you think you have a cavity or need your routine dental checkup, contact Arkansas Family Dental, Little Rock AR at (501) 683-8886 for an appointment, or just search “cavity filling Little Rock”.